Submersion-regulating gear for torpedoes.



No. 670,04l. Patented Mar. 19, 1901. A. .1. VAN smcxum.

SUBiflERSION BEGULATING GEAR FOR TORPEDOES (Application filed June 23, 1900.)

(Ho Model.)

- Uwrrsn STATES.

ABRAHAM JOHANNES VAN S-TOOKUM, OF LISSE, NETHERLANDS.

SUBMERSION-REGULATENG G EAR FOR TORPED OES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 670,041 dated March 19, 1901.

a Application filedJune 23, 1900. Serial No. 21,371. \No model.) I

u/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM JOHANNES VAN STOCKUM, a subject'of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at Lisse, Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submersion-Regulating Gear for Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to compel torpedoes to travel 'on an even keel at any required submersion by means of the apparatus now to be described. I

vNow accordingto this invention I secure in the body of the torpedo two hollow cylinders orother suitable receptacles open atone end and closed at the other end, theinterior of the i said receptacles communicating. with each otherby means of a. pipe or tube, one of the said receptacles being vertical and the other horizon tal. The horizontal receptacle is fixed in the bulkhead separating the compartment containing the apparatus from the engineroom or other chamber which is open to the water. The vertical receptacle maybe sewired to a suitable bracket or stanchion; but it the apparatus is made strong enough the one connection to the bulkhead is suflicient to support the whole. The receptacles and con necting-tube are filled or partly filled with mercury and their open ends closed withflexible waterproof diaphragms, the diaphragm of the horizontal receptacle being connected by suitable linkwork to the Servo motor or other mechanism operating the horizontal rudders. The depth at which the torpedo floats is determined by the height of the column of mercury contained in the receptacles and connecting-tube, and the sensitiveness of the apparatus and its ability to quickly correct errors of inclination and to compel the torpedo to travel on an even keel depend uponthe horizontal distance between the receptacles. .lnorder that my said invention may be fully u'nde'rstood, I will proceed to explain the same with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- 7 figure 1 represents a section of an apparafor regulating the submersion of torpedoes constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 shews bnikhead and lever which is connect ed ts Serve meter.

1 The same letters denote the same parts in both figures.

ably-shaped receptacles of steel, iron, gunmetal, or other suitable material containing cle B by means of the pipe 0. The mouths of the receptacles A and B are closed by flexible diaphragms', a c, made-of indiaa'ubber, leather, or any other suitable'material, preferably Waterproof, the said diaphrjaglns being rings 1; b, screwed into the said receptacles, which latter areformed with shoulders, as shown, to form seati-ngs for the (liaphragms are. Thediaphragm it serves the double purpose of preventingwater from entering the apparatus and also'retaining the mercury in the receptacleslA B and tube 0.

The receptacleB is closed with a perforated cover 01, forming part of the locking-ring b, so as to allow theatmo'spheric air to have f r'ee accessto theupper side of the diaphragm c;

D is'the bulkhead separating the chamber ment containing the submersion-regulating gear, to which bulkhead is secured the recast in one piece with the said bulkhead, as

shown by Fig. 1. I

E is a lever hinged at e to the said bulkhead and connected at its freeend' by one or more links f to the Servo motor or other apparatus actuating the horizontal rudders. The lever E is secured to the plates or disks 9 g on each side of the diaphragm a, the said plates or inside of the receptacle A, as shown by Fig. 1, a bolt or stud h passing through the lever E, plates g g, and diaphragm a, nuts at each together.

When the apparatusis in the normal position shown by Fig. 1, the Servo motor or other apand the torpedo floats on an even keel at a depth below the surface cfthe water, dependcnry it," it heingnnderstood that the said col- A and B are two cylindrical or other suit held in place by one or more metal locking- .,which is open to the water from the compartceptacle A, or the said-receptacle may be disks being of a smaller diameter than the end of the said bolt or stud securing the whole The action of the apparatus is as followsz set upon the height of the column of mer-' mercury, the interior of the receptacle A COIl'lmunicating with the interior of the recept-aparatus/ holds the horizontal rudders level IOO more and more submerged the hydrostatic pressure on the diaphragm ct is increased and the inclination of the horizontal rudders diminished until when the torpedo floats on an even keel at the required depth the pressures on each side of the diaphragm are equal and the torpedo travels as required.

Should the torpedo attempt to rise by reason of the head of the same becoming inclined I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a snbmersion-regnlating gear for torpedoes the combination of two cylindrical or other suitably-shaped receptacles containingmercury and communicating with each other by means of a pipe or tube; dlaphragms of .leather india-rubher or other suitable material closing themouths of the said receptacles and a means for transmitting the motion of one of the diaphragms caused by variations in the height of the mercury column to the Servo motor or other apparatus operatingthe horizontal nudders substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. In a submersion-regulating gear for torpedoes the combination of receptacles A B containing mercury whereof the receptacle A is fixed to or made integral with the bulkhead D separating the compartment containing the apparatus from the chamber which is open to the water, a pipe'or tube C forming a communication between the interior of the receptacle A and the interior of the receptacle B;

diaphragms a a closing the mo'uths of the receptacles A B; plates or disks g g secured by a bolt or other suitable means 6 to the diaphragm a; a lever E hinged at one end to the bulkhead D and at the other end to a link or lin ksf connected to the Servo motor the said lever being also connected to the bolt It so as to move therewith and one or more lockingrings 12 I) to secure the diaphragms in the receptacles all substantiallyas specified and for the purposes stated.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ABRAHAM JOHANNES VAN S'lOCKUM.

Witnesses:

ANTONIE MARTINUS VAN DER JAeT, JoHANNEs VAN DE REEF. 

